Friendly, Modern Law Firm

EJ Moyle Solicitors is a friendly, modern law firm that has offered a broad range of legal services for both business and private clients within the Littlehampton, Rustington and West Sussex areas for over 53 years.

We pride ourselves on the high level of quality legal services we are able to provide to our Clients coupled with a friendly and professional approach.

Our experienced, Partner-led Legal Teams specialise in:

• Residential and Commercial Property
• Family Law - separation, divorce, financial matters, children issues, and post and pre-marital agreements
• Private Client - Wills, Probate, LPA's, Estate Administration, Estate Management and Deputy Applications

If you require any legal services now, or in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Introduction of Open Reporting

From 27^th January 2025, open reporting provisions have been introduced in the Family Court in England and Wales and will give accredited journalists and legal bloggers a “presumptive right” to attend most family court hearings, including family proceedings in the High Court.

The aim is to remove the perceived secrecy in the family courts so as to improve public confidence and understanding of the family justice system. 

Media reporting is not permitted in cases such as those relating to adoption, placement orders, parental orders, or judicially assisted negotiation such as Financial Dispute Resolution Hearings. Judges can refuse members of the media permission to attend in specific circumstances.

Being able to attend a hearing does not, however, entitle members of the media attending proceedings to report more than limited details about the case, particularly if the proceedings concern children and/or are held in private. Cases attended by journalists and bloggers will be covered by a transparency order, setting out what can be reported. Reporters can also access some basic case documents and families can talk to journalists about their case, without risking punishment for contempt of court.

Knowing that a reporter or blogger could be in attendance may influence couples/families to focus on resolving matters outside court using alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation, which have the benefit of offering a private and confidential forum to resolve issues. There is no risk of reporting a private resolution because the meetings take place out of court in the anonymity of solicitors’ premises or barristers’ chambers.

To explore your family law resolution options, please contact Sharon Lyon: slyon@moyle.co.uk.

Lasting Power of Attorney

What would happen if you no longer had the mental capacity to make decisions about your property, finances, health and welfare?

In this instance, a Deputy, appointed by the Court of Protection, would be put in place to manage your affairs.

If you would prefer to have control over who makes such important decisions about your life if you lose mental capacity, then it would be wise to consider putting a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place.

An LPA is a document that allows you to appoint one or more people  to make decisions on your behalf in the event that you lose mental capacity in relation to either:

• Health and welfare – this includes decisions about care, medical treatment, food, drink, clothing, activities, and where you live.
• Property and financial affairs – thisincludes decisions about paying bills, bank accounts, savings accounts, investments, and selling property.

Benefits of an LPA include:

• Peace of mind: You can rest assured that someone you trust will make decisions for you according to your wishes if you are unable to.
• Clarity: You can start discussions with your family about what you want to happen.
• Cost and Speed: An LPA is a significantly quicker and cheaper process than the Deputyship application.

If you are considering setting up an LPA or would like to discuss this or any Private Client matters further, please contact Sophie Careless-Shore, scarelessshore@moyle.co.uk.

Solicitor or Legal Executive

If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please send your CV to Linda Robinson at lrobinson@moyle.co.uk

Meet The Property Team

Here at E J Moyle LLP Solicitors we pride ourselves on the service that we provide to all our Clients, with specialised and experienced Lawyers in Property, Family and Elderly Client Departments.

The Property Team is headed up by our Managing Partner, Rob Fawcett, with Melissa Hubbard, Solicitor, Lisa May, MCILEX Conveying Executive, and Bart Hunter, Paralegal.  The Department is also supported by our experienced Legal Assistants.

The Property services that we offer range from commercial transactions (sale and purchase of commercial/business premises, property portfolio’s, grant of leases, etc.) to residential matters (sale and purchase, new leases, lease extensions, property transfers, etc.).

If you are thinking of getting onto the property ladder and would like advice relating to the procedure and what to expect, we would be delighted to talk to you.  Likewise, if you have a commercial  or residential property query, we are here to help and advise you.

Please feel free to contact our Team via our group email address litmail@moyle.co.uk  or telephone (01903 725143).

Commercial Property Lawyer

If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please send your CV to Linda Robinson at lrobinson@moyle.co.uk

Separation and Divorce

Are you going through a relationship breakdown, considering separation and/or divorce?  Do you feel out of control and overwhelmed and do not know where to turn for help?

Separation and divorce can be a difficult process for many.  We are here to help you through this procedure whether it is in respect of how to resolve property and financial matters, for example, how these should be divided, or issues that may arise in respect of your children, such as, which parent they should live with and which parent they should spend time with.

From the first meeting, we will seek to explain the procedure for each area of the process relating to your own particular situation and provide you with options that you may pursue.  Our aim is to assist you in reaching a fair outcome to your situation to enable you to move forward with your life.

If you need help, we would be pleased to offer you confidential legal advice.  You can  contact our Family Team at E J Moyle LLP Solicitors on 01903-784447 or email slyon@moyle.co.uk or TrandallMay@moyle.co.uk.

A Very Merry Christmas

We would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

In the past year, we have assisted many of our clients in achieving their goals by dealing with their legal matters, whether that was moving into their dream home or commercial premises, getting their affairs in order by making a Will, or by dealing with family issues. 

In 2025, we aim to maintain the excellent service we are proud to offer and to further enhance the strong local reputation we have built up.  You can see our numerous first-class client reviews on our website www.moyle.co.uk or via Review Solicitors.

We also want to continue supporting local charities and those we hold close to our hearts, which is especially important at this festive time of the year.

As we look to the New Year, if you need any legal help, please contact us on 01903-725143, or email our Partners:

Estate Administration

It is an emotional and frequently overwhelming time following the death of a loved one.  If you are required to deal with the Estate after their death, there are several steps that you will need to take.  You will need to register their death, organise their funeral, collect in their assets, pay any debts, and then finally distribute the Estate.

Our Private Client Team can provide you with sympathetic advice during this time, and we can confirm whether a Grant of Probate is necessary to deal with the Estate or whether any Inheritance Tax is payable. Our Team can assist you where a loved one has died either with  or without a Will.  We can help with the whole administration process on your behalf, or we can simply make the application to the Court for the Grant to allow you to finalise matters yourself. 

If you have begun dealing with an Estate yourself but have found the process overwhelming, time-consuming or confusing, then our Team can assist you in finalising the Estate administration.  We can be involved as much, or as little, as you require.

You can also complete a confidential online enquiry at www.moyle.co.uk

Property Lawyer, Melissa Hubbard

Melissa has now been at E J Moyle LLP for 6 months working as a Solicitor within the Property Department alongside Lisa May and Rob Fawcett, and supported by our Paralegal and Assistants. 

Melissa has primarily been dealing with an array of residential conveyancing matters, from transfers of equity through to freehold and leasehold sales and purchases.  She has also assisted on aspects of commercial property in providing independent legal advice and dealing with lease assignments. 

Rob Fawcett, our Managing Partner and Head of Property, says “Melissa has already proved herself to be a capable and valuable member of the team”.

The Property Team has a wealth of knowledge on both residential and commercial matters, and we are committed to providing the best legal service that we can for our clients.

If you would like any advice in relation to your property matters, please let us know – we would be very happy to help you.

Alternatively, you can contact us via our website by completing our confidential online enquiry form www.moyle.co.uk